School Funding Updates

Governor Newsom signed AB 130, the 2021 education budget bill that includes extraordinary levels of investment in California’s TK-12 education. We’re thrilled to see our calls for robust investment in racially just, relationship-centered, and transformative community schools reflected in the $3 billion provided for the California Community Schools Partnership Program (see our advocacy letters from February 12, 2021, April 16, 2021, and May 17, 2021, which include the support of 50 community, policy and research allies). We are also excited to see our requests for increased funding for critical educator training and professional development to attract and support diverse, well-prepared educators in California’s schools included in the $2.9 billion allocated for teacher recruitment, retention and professional development programs. Moreover, we support the permanent increase to the LCFF concentration grant to increase staffing for districts serving large concentrations of low-income students, foster youth and English learners.

We applaud the State’s commitment to trauma-informed training for educators and staff and the emphasis on students’ emotional and mental health in the budget. Key investments include $6.15 million to support the standardized application of school climate surveys, which we have long-sought, substantial educator professional development funding (e.g., $25 million on student behavioral health, $52 million on social-emotional learning and trauma-informed practices, and $10 million on anti-bias education). This is in addition to the establishment of a state Office of School-Based Health and other multi-million dollar investments in the budget for children and youth behavioral health initiatives, including expanding school-based health services.